Interv Akut Kardiol. 2005;4(2):70-73

PLASMA NT-proBNP: A SENSITIVE MARKER OF THE CLINICAL STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE HEART FAILURE

Radek Pudil⁵, Miloš Tichý¹, Jaroslav Gregor², Rudolf Praus⁵, Václav Bláha³, Jan Vojáček^5,4, prof. MUDr. Jaroslav Malý CSc⁵

¹ Ústav klinické biochemie a diagnostiky FN a LF UK Hradec Králové

² II. interní klinika LF UK a Fakultní nemocnice, Hradec Králové

³ Fakulta vojenského zdravotnictví Univerzity obrany, Hradec Králové

⁴ Kardiocentrum dospělých, oddělení invazivní kardiologie interní kliniky 2. LF UK a FN Motol, Praha

⁵ I. interní klinika Fakultní nemocnice v Hradci Králové

The aim of the study was to compare clinical symptoms, plasma NT-proBNP levels, cardiothoracic ratio and echocardiographic parameters in patients with acute left ventricular failure. Study population consisted of 96 patients (pts) (67.63 ± 10.77 years, 45 females), 9 of them had symptoms of lung oedema, and 6 of them had cardiogenic shock. The study showed a significant increase in plasma NT-proBNP in all patients (8 575.89 ± 9 665.02 pg/ml, vs control group 91.27 ± 76.63 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Significant differences have been found in plasma NT-proBNP levels depending on the degree of clinical severity (in pts with lung oedema 9 373.67 ± 6 899.29 pg/ml, in pts with cardiogenic shock 28 998.67 ± 6 813.59 pg/ml). While the cardiothoracic ratio was increased in all patients (0.59 ± 0.06, vs. 0.41 ± 0.04, p < 0.001), there were no significant differences between subgroups according to clinical severity. Similar findings were observed in other parameters (left ventricle dimensions, ejection fraction, left ventricle mass) which significantly differed from the control group, but there were no differences between subgroups according to clinical severity. Vena cava inferior diameter was increased in all patients (22.17 ± 3.38 cm, vs. 15.39 ± 1.89 cm, p < 0.001) with a trend to increase in more severe failure. The study showed that plasma NT-proBNP at the time of admission can reflect the degree of heart failure accurately and is sometimes more sensitive than some other commonly used clinical parameters.

Keywords: Key words: acute heart failure, plasma NT-proBNP, ejection fraction, cardiothoracic ratio.

Published: January 1, 2006  Show citation